Switch stand



y 1929. J. M. HOFFER SWITCH STAND Filed Feb. 19, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l Janna? M ATTORNEY J. M. HOFFER .swITcH STAND 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 19, 1926 INVENTOR ATTORNEY l etented Mary 14, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JAMES M. HOFIFER, OF S'ILEELTON, PENN$YLVANIA, ASSIGIFIOR '10 BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY.

SWITCH STAND.

Application filed February 19, 1926. Serial No. 89,262.

My invention relates to switch stands off the spring type, that is, to that type which permits oi": a. train trailing through the switch spring devices being employed in order thet a switch point may move away from a rail due to passage of wheel flanges therebetween, and my invention has for an object to provide a. switch stand of this chorzicter which shall iliunction us :1 spring switch stund only in limiting ol? linol positions and 215 a positive switch stund in all other positions.

' A. l'urther object ct my invention is to provide it spring switch seen d having; such an arrangement of ports tl it the spring devices 5 do not oppose nmnual operation of the switch.

lit has heretofore been common practice to lock the operating lever 01 a spring svi'itch stand to a member oil the yieldehle mechanism. An objection to such an arrangement is that one new, with it suitable implement, throw the switch. It is, therefore, 21 :fmrther object of my invention to provide it spring switch stand oi? such a. character th at the lever may be locked to n stutionery port of the structure.

1'1 further object oi' my invention is to provide a spring switch stend whichshall be readily convertible into one of the positive type.

it further object of my invention is to provide :1 spring; switch stnud oil the gem-less type wherein the mechanism for transini motion tron). the switch operating lever to the spindle shell transmit motion with the n rrutcst meclninicul :idvuntzip'e ot the beginning and at the end oi movements of the switch lever.

Apparatus mode in accordance with my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming it port of this application in whiehllig. 1 is u side elevation of my improved type n i? switch stand;

his; 2 a plan view of the zqiperutus shou n in. Fig. 1 with the cover removed;

Fig. 3 is 21. vertical sectional. view taken (don the line l.llll.l ot Fig.1. 1;

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, I show a switch stand having a housing 10, provided withn cover 11, which is secured in position by any suitable means, as by screws or bolts 12. A switch lever 13 is carried externally at one end of the housing and it is connected with a horizontal stem 1 1 movable with respect to a hearing 15 disposed within the housing.

A vertical spindle 16 has upper and lower hearing or trunnion portions 17 iind 18, respectively journolled in hearings 19 end 20 csrriied by the housing structure. Below the housing, a. crank portion provided by means of El threuded eyelet 21 which engages in the tl'ireuded opening 22 carried by the portion 18 below the housing. The upper portion 17 of the spindle mziy protrude shove the cover 11 and have a target connected thereto in a manner well known in the art.

The lever 13 is arranged to swing in a. vertical plane and it is adopted to move 180 in throwing the switch to either position, the lever 13 cooperating with suitable means, such as hips 241: erriod by the housing 10, in order that the lever may be locked in either of its horizontal. positions. i i ith movement of the lever 13 through on angle of 18 the spindle 16 is moved through an angle of and I employ mechanism. at 25. tor transmitting and. trenstorlninpg angular motion oi the stem 14: into onpulur motion oi the spindle 16, the letter moving through an angle of 90 for each 180 of movement oil the stem 1 1.

Referring now more in detail to the mechanism at 25, it will be seen that the stem 14 curries at cross bar 526 at its forward end. the cross her being provided with o for-word bearing surface 27 which is inclined reorwurdly and out wordly toward the ends of the her from the central trnninerse plane thereof.

' extent.

33 defining a slot to receive the block 32 and the members 33 having trunnion screws S L having trunnion portions 35 adapted to fit lateral recesses in the block 32.

Lugs 37 are arranged at the ends of the bar for limiting motion of the yoke with respect thereto; such lugs or projections being provided with an inner surface which merges in a curved manner with the surface 27, and lateral projections 37 of any suitable type are carried by the lugs 37 for coaction with the yoke portions 29 in order to limit outward movement of the yoke 28 with respect to the bar.

l/Vhenever the stem 14 is moved angularly, the cross bar 26 moves angularly to the same The yoke 28 moves with the cross bar-and it is displaced both vertically and -horizontally, the horizontal displacement being transmitted to the spindle 16 while the vertical displacement is taken care of by swiveling motions of the stem with respect to the block and pivotal motions of the latter with respect to the spindle. It is cha ac- 'teristic of the type of mechanical movement here utilized for transmitting motion from the stem to the spindle that the greatest mechanical advantage occurs at starting and ending of movements of the switch lever. This is desirable for the reason that the maximum of resistance offered in the operation of the switch occurs when starting and when ending the switching operation.

Referring to the features of my construction which give to the switch its spring character, it will be seen that the housing 10 is provided with a transverse wall 38 having its forward face 39 arranged adjacent to the rear face a l) of the cross bar 26. The wall. 38

is provided with a recess ll disposed horizontally and which is adapted to recelve the ing abutments for limiting the blocks moving in the direction of the cross bar. Springs 4-6 are disposed between the blocks 44. and the end wall of the housing and. serve to keep the blocks in position with the portions 4.4-1 extending through the openings 42 and through the recess l1, such portions 43 preterably extending beyond the surface 39 so as to contactwith the rear face of the cross bar when the latteris in a horizontal position.

The lever 18 has a slidable power-transmitting connection with respect to the stem 14, the lever preferably having a square opening 47 in its hub to receive asquare end 48 of the stem 14.

From the structure described, it will be apparent that the stem 14 and its cross bar 26 are capable of rectilinear motion with respect to the housing whenever the cross bar is in a horizontal position when it registers with the recess 411; however, entrance move.- ment of the cross bar into the recess is resisted by the springs 4-6 acting through the blocks 44:. In this position of the cross bar, it power is applied to the spindle to turn the latter in. such a direction as to move the yoke to the opposite end of the cross bar.v such movement readily takes place for the reason that the yoke presses the cross bar into the recess ll compressing the springs 4:6; and. just as soon as the roller 30 passes beyond the highest portion of the bearing surface 27, the energy stored in the springs becomes ellcctive to continue motion oi the yoke until the latter reaches the other end of the bar. .lt will, therefore, be seen that my im 'n'ovcd switch may be readily thrown in order to allow a train to pass therethrough. Owinglo the fact that the switch is yicldable only when the cross bar 26 is in registry with the recess 41, such cross bar being disposed adjacent to the upper surface 39 ot the wall 38. my improved type of switch is positive for all positions of the stem 14 and cross bar 26 except the horizontal position of the. latter. lositiveness is a valuable feature for the reason that should anything interfere with completion of movement of a spring rail with respect to a main ail, the lover ltl cannot be moved further to any substantial extent until whatever is causing the interference is r moved or remedied. In this way, the switch is comparatively fool proof for the reason that whenever the lever 13 is in a horizontal position this indicates that the switch has been correctly operated. This position is not only apparent to a switclnnan but also to others.

lV'th the particular type of mechanism shown for transmitting motion from the t cm l-l to the spindle 16, it is l'ound that \'ol' little movement ol' the spindle 16 takes place during the beginning and linal phases ol movement of the lever 13. For example. dur ing the first 45 of movement o l the lover lil upwardly from a horizontal pos tion, the spindle 16 moves only about 5: during the next 90 of movement of the lever 13. the

spindle 16 moves substantially and during the linal 45 of movement ol' the lovol' ltl to a horizontal position. the spindle l6 moves through about 5. It will thus he soon that the mechanism tor transmittin z mot ion from the stem 14 to the spindle 16 has adequate mechanical advantage at. the beginning and, at the completion of a. switching movement. this being beneficial at the beginning: in order to overcome friction and in the linal pha e in order to secure a tight it oi a spring rail with respect to a main rail.

Should it be desired to make the switch ltlll llll') llll llii

III

Lil

positive in all of its positions, this may be done either by restricting motion of the yoke 28 with respect to the cross bar, or rectilinear motion of the cross bar 26 and the stem 14 may be resisted positively in some manner. For example, I show the lever 13 having its hub portion confined between the end face 01 the housing and a member 51, the hub portion being provided with an opening 52 adapted to register with an opening 53 in the stem i i. It, as shown in Fig. 3, a pin 54 is inserted in the registering openings 52 and 53, rectilinear motion of the stem. 14 and its cross bar 26 is prevel'ited and the switch consequently becomes positive in all of its operative positions. If desired, the pin 54 may he made shearable, in which case a train should run through the switch, the pin 54 would shear oil? avoiding either breakage of the switch or derailn'ient, i

l l hile l. have shown my invention in but one 'lorm, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it not so limited, but is susceptible. of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are speciticrlly set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. in a spring and positive switch stand, the combination oi a stem, a cranlecarrying spindle, means tor transmitting rotary mo tion of the stem to the spindle and effective to transform rotary motion of the spindle, when the latter is the driving element, into rectilinear motion of the stem, and means for preventing rectilinear motion of the stem except when the latter occupies a predetermined an gular position.

in a spring and positive switch stand, the combination of a cranlr- 'arrying spindle, a rotatable stein, i'nechanism for transmitting rotary motion oi the stem to the spindle and tor coi'iverting rotary motion ot the spindle, when the latter is the driving element, into rectilinear motion ot the stem, spring means for resistino' rectilinear mot-ion oi? the stem, and means tor preventing rectilinear motion of the stem except when the latter occupies 1)l'CtlQlQ-lllllllml angular positions.

Pl. lln a spring and positive switch stand, the ci'ui'ibination of a housing, a crank-carryinp; spindle journalcd in the housing, a stem iournaled in the housing, a switch lever connected with the stem, mechanism for trans initting rotary motion of the stem to the spindle and tor converting rotary motion of the spindle, when the latter is the driving elen'ient, i to rectilinear motion 01 the stem, projection means carried by the stem, abutment means carried by the housing and having a recess to receive the projection means and serving to prevent rectilinear motion of the stem except when the projection means is in registry with the recess, and spring means for resisting rectilinear motion of the stem when the projection means is in registry with the recess.

41. In a switch stand, the combination of a housing, a vertical spindle journaled in the housing, a. horizontal stem journaled in the housing, a switch actuating lever connected with the outer end of the stem, a cross arm connected to the inner end of the stem, a block pivoted to the spindle about an axis normal to the spindle axis, and a yoke engagin'g the cross arm and having a stem journaled with respect to the block about an axis normal to the pivotal axis of the latter, all. of said axes intersecting at a common point.

5. In a switch stand, the combination of a housing, a crank-carrying spindle journalcd in the housing, a stem, a switch actuating lever connected with the outer end of the stem, a cross arm connected to the inner end of the stem and having a forward hearing surface, a bloclr pivoted with respect to the spindle about an axis normal to the spindle axis, a yoke having a bearing element cooperating with the bearing surface of the cross arm and having yoke elements disposed laterally of the cross arm, a stem connected to the yoke and. journaled with respect to the block about an axis normal to the pivotal axis of the latter, all of said axes intersecting at a common point, and stop means carried by the cross arm for limiting outward movement of the yoke with respect to the cross arm.

(i. In a switch stand, the combination ot a housing, a cranlecarrying spindle journaled in the housing, a stem journaled in the hens in g, a' switch actuating lever connected with the outer end of the stem. a cross arm connected to the inner end of the stem, a wall carried by the housing and having a recess adapted to register with the cross arm in predetermined angular positions of the latter, said. cross arm having a forward bearing surtaco which is inclined rearwardly from. a central transverse plane, a blocl: pivotally connected to the spindle about an axis normal to the spindle axis, a. voke having a bearing element. engaging the bearing surlace oi? the cross arm and having portions which overlap the cross arm laterally. a stem connected to the yoke and journaled in the block about an axis normal to the pivotal axis of the latter, all of said axes intersecting at a common point, stop means carried by the cross arm For limiting outward movement of the yoke, an d sprin means tor resisting entrance of the cross arm into said recess.

7. In a switch stand, the combination oi a housing, a crank-carrying spindle journaled in the housing, a stem ournaled in the housing, a switch actuating lever connected with plane, a block pivoted to the spindle about an axis normal to the spindle axis, a yoke having a bearing element engaging the bearing surface of the cross arm and having yoke portions which overlap the cross arm laterally, a stem connected to the yoke and journaled in the block about an axis normal to the pivotal axis of the'latter, all of said axes intersecting at a common point, stop means carried by the cross arm for limiting outward movement of the yoke with respect thereto, and yieldable means for resisting en-- trance of the cross arm into said recess.

8. In a switch stand, the combination of a housing, a vertical crank-carrying spindle journaled in the housing, a horizontal stem journaled in the housing, a switch actuating lever having a shdable power-transmitting connection with respect to the outer end of the stem, at cross arm connected to the inner end of the stem, a wall carried by the housing and disposed transversely of the axis of the stem, said wall having a forward face I disposed adjacent to the plane of the rear face of the cross arm and having a recess conforming to and adapted to register with the cross arm in predetermined angular positions oft-he latter, said cross arm having a forward hearing surface which is inclined rearwardly toward its ends from a central transverse plane,

'a blocklpivoted to the spindle about an axis normal to the spindle axis, a yoke having a bearing. elementengaging the forward hearing surface of the cross arm and having yoke portions which overlap the cross arm laterally, astem connected to the yoke and journaled inv the block about an axis normal to the pivotal axis of the latter, all of said axes intersecting at a common point, said wall having openings communicating with. the recess, blocks extending through the openings and through the recess and adapted to engage the rear surface of the cross arm, abutment means carried by the blocks for limiting movement thereof toward the cross arm, and springs cooperating with the blocks to urge the latter toward the cross arm, whereby said springs serve to resist entrance movement of the cross arm into said recess.

9. In a switch stand, the combination of a housing, a vertical crank-carrying spindle journaled in the housing, a horizontal stem journaled in the housing, a switch operating lever arranged externally of the housing and having a slidable power-transmitting connection with respect to the outer end of the stem, said lever being movable through substantially 180 in a vertical plane to substantially horizontal positions for operative settings of the switch, a cross arm connected to the inner end of the stem and having a forward bearing surface inclined from the central plane of the arm rearwardl y towards the ends thereof, a wall carried by the housing and having one face thereof disposed closely adjacent to the plane of the rear face of the arm, said wall having a transversely recess adapted to receive thr arm when the latter is in registry with the recess, a block pivotally connected to the spindl about an axis normal to the spindle axis, a yoke having a bearing element engaging with the bearing surface of the bar and having yohe elements arranged to overlap the bar laterally, a stem carried by the yoke and journaled about an axis disposed normally with respect to the pivotal axis of the block and passing through the point of intersection of the spindle axis and of the block pivotal axis, stop means arranged at the ends of the bar for limiting outward movement of the yoke with respect thereto, said walls having openings extending through the portion thereof at the bottom of said recess, blocks having portions extending through said openings and through the recess to hear against the rear face of the bar when the latter comes in contact therewith, abutment means carried by the last-named blocks for limitingmotion thereof toward the bar, and spring means cooperating with the lastnamed blocks to resist entrance movement of the cross bar into said recess, said stern and said lever having registry openings for the reception of fastening means for re: rt ing rectilinear motion of said stem in order that the switch may operate as one of the positive type for all positions thereof.

10. In a switch stand, the combination of a housing, a crank carrying spindle iournaled in the housing, a switch actuating lever, a stem slidingly mounted in said housing and slidingly connected to said lever. a cross arm connected to the stem ha vine a forward bearing surface which is inclined rearwardly in opposite directions from a central transverse plane, a member pivotally connected to the spindle and engaging the hcaring surface of said cross arm. and resilient means constraining the latter into engagement with said member.

11. In a switch stand, the combination of a housing, a crank carrying spindle journaled in the housing, a switch actuating lover, a stem slidingly mounted in said housing Ill) ltltl ltlii llt) and slidingly connected to said lever, a arose arm connected to the stem having a forward hearing surface which is inclined reerwnrdly in opposite directions from a central transverse plane, a block member pivotally cenneeted t0 the spindle, a yoke swivelled to said block member and straddling said cross arm,

a roller mounted in said yoke engaging said bearing surface, and resilient means urging said cross arm into engagement With said 10 roller.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature this 22nd day of Jan, 1926.

JAMES M. HOFFER. 

